Google has laid off approximately 200 employees from its Global Business Organization, the team responsible for handling sales and partnerships, according to a report by The Information. This marks Google’s third round of job cuts in just five months, signaling a broader industry-wide restructuring as tech giants redirect focus toward artificial intelligence (AI) and data center infrastructure.
In a statement to Reuters, Google described the layoffs as “small changes across teams” designed to enhance collaboration and boost the company’s responsiveness to customer needs. The move aligns with Google’s continued efforts to streamline operations and better align its workforce with evolving strategic priorities.
These latest cuts follow earlier reductions in Google’s Platforms and Devices division, which impacted teams working on Android, Pixel devices, and the Chrome browser. Additionally, minor layoffs took place in the company’s human resources and cloud divisions earlier this year, alongside a voluntary exit program offered to select employees.
This restructuring is part of a trend that began in January 2023, when Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced a massive reduction of 12,000 roles—about 6% of its global workforce. As of the end of 2024, Alphabet reported employing 183,323 people worldwide.
Google’s moves are part of a larger pattern among major tech firms. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, cut around 5% of its lowest-performing staff in January and recently laid off employees in its Reality Labs division, which includes Oculus Studios. Microsoft, too, eliminated 650 roles in its Xbox unit in September, while Amazon and Apple made similar cuts in departments such as communications and digital services.
The industry-wide trend underscores a significant shift in priorities. As the race to lead in AI and cloud computing accelerates, companies are reallocating resources to these high-growth sectors while scaling back in others. The result is a wave of workforce reductions aimed at maintaining agility in an increasingly competitive and technologically driven market.
